D-type handle



T. L. CROGK D-TYPE HANDLE Aug. 31, 1937.

Filed July 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THOMAS L. CROOK ATTORNEYS Aug. 31, 1937. CROQK 2,091,403

' D-TYPE HANDLE Filed July 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

24 I6 FIG.8.

INVENTOR THOMAS L. CROOK ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STA OFFICE Application July 15,

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to handles for various different types of implements, and refers more particularly to handles of the D-type adapted for use in association with shovels and the like.

The invention also concerns itself with the method of making D-type handles and has as one of its objects to simplify, render more efficient, and improve generally the method of manufacturing handles of this character.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a handle of the character set forth, wherein the portion thereof connecting the. grip to the stem or stale of the implement is formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

A further advantageous feature of the present invention consists in the provision of a D-type handle embodying complementary tubular sections having portions at the lower ends cooperating to form a circular tubular stale receiving socket and having other portions integrally connecting the sections and forming a diametrically disposed partition engageable with a slot in the stale to prevent rotation of the latter relative to the. handle.

Other advantageous features of the D-type handle forming the subject matter of this invention and one relatively simple method that may be employed to manufacture this handle will be more fully hereinafter described, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the strip of metal employed in making the D-type handle and illustrates the appearance of this strip subsequent to the stamping and shearing operation;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the strip shown in Figure 1, after the latter has been bent about its major axis;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the strip shown in Figure 2, after the marginal edges of the latter have been bent inwardly;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 4A is a cross sectional view taken on the line lA-4A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View illustrating the contour to which the strip shown in Figure 3 is formed;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the strip shown in Figure 5, after the same has been bent to form complementary side sections;

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the completed D-type handle showing the same in assembled relation with the stem or stale of the implement;

1935, Serial No. 31,532

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 88 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the plate; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the grip re'- ceiving portion of one of the complementary handle sections.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and with special reference to Figures '7 to 10 inclusive, it will be noted that there is illustrated in Figure 7 a D-type handle having complementary sections l6 of substantially tubular cross section cooperating at the lower ends to form a circular socket ll of sufficient diameter to receive the reduced upper end l8 of thestem or stale B9. In the present instance, the lower end of each section is semi-circular for at least the extent of the socket IT, in order to impart a circular cross section to the latter for receiving the stale, and the portions of the sections beyond the socket diverge with respect to the axis of the socket. As will be' observed from Figure 7, the diverging portions of the sections gradually decrease in cross section toward the upper ends thereof, and the latter ends cooperate to receive therebetween the grip 20. In accordance with conventional practice, the grip is preferably formed from a nonmetallic material such as wood, and is secured to the upper extremities of the sections by means of a rivet 2|. By reference to Figure 10, it will be apparent that the inner walls 22 of the sections terminate short of the upper endsof the outer sides of these sections so as to provide the sockets 23 for receiving the opposite ends of the grip iii. The termination of the upper ends of the inner walls 22 of the sections short of the corresponding ends of the outer surfaces, not only provides the sockets 23 previously referred to, but also provides straight shoulders 24 at the lower sides of the sockets 23 for engagement with the adjacent portions of the grip 20 to effectively absorb the end strain or downward thrusts of the grip 20. The grip 2B is also prevented from rotation relative to the complementary sections by means of suitable lugs 25 integral with the upper ends of the inner walls 22 of the sections and bent out wardly to seat the portions 26 thereof upon the inner faces of the portions of the sections projecting beyond the inner walls 22. The portions 26 of the lugs are preferably upset to provide iiiwardly extending projections 27, and these proj ections are adapted to embed in the ends of the grip Zllwhen the latter is assembled with the sections l6. In this connection it may be pointed out that the'portions of the g ripresting upon the straight shoulders 24 may also be flattened, in

which event, rotation of the grip relative to the sections i6 is positively prevented.

While in the previously described form of the invention, reference has been made to the fact that the handle is formed principally of tubular sections, nevertheless, it is to be noted that these sections are not separable in that they are formed integral with each other. In the present instance, the inner wall 22 of one of the comple- 10 mentary sections [6 is continuous with the corresponding inner wall of the other section, or, in other words, the inner walls 22 of both sections are formed integral with each other at the bottom of the handle and cooperate to form a partition extending diametrically across the cylindrical socket II. It will be observed from Figure '7, that the partition is received in a slot 36 formed in the reduced upper end N3 of the stale l9 and serves to prevent rotation of the stale relative to the handle. In the present instance, the reduced portion E8 of the stale is forced into the cylindrical socket and is secured against displacement relative to the socket by means of the transverse rivets 3!.

Referring now to one method by means of which the D-type handle previously described, may be manufactured, a strip of sheet metal of predetermined dimension is stamped to the shape designated in Figure l, and is simultaneously 0 shear-ed midway between the ends as indicated by the line 33. The strip may then be fashioned to the cross sectional contour indicated in Figure 2,

and the marginal edges 34 are subsequently bent inwardly to form the inner wall 22 previously 35 described. Upon completion of the foregoing operations, the strip is subjected to a suitable forming die, shaped to impart the contour tothe strip shown in Figure 5. It will be noted from Figure 5,

that the portion of the' inner wall 22 represented 40 by the dimension A lies in a common plane and the opposed portion of the outer wall is substantially semi-circular. It will, also, be observed that the portions of the strip projecting beyond opposite ends of the portion A are flared toone 45 side of the plane of the portion A and form the diverging arms of the completed handle. In addition, attention is called to the fact that the inner wall 22 of the strip extends continuously from one end portion of the strip to the other, 50 while the outer wall is severed at the line 33 forming the complementary sections previously referred to, and permitting the strip to be folded to the shape thereof indicated in Figure 6, wherein the portions A of the inner wall 22 are ar- 55 ranged back to back. It will be understood that the extremities of the strip shown in Figure 5 are suitably mortised, prior to folding the same,

to form the sockets 23 for receiving the opposite ends of the grip 20. Also, the lugs 25 on the strip 60 are fashioned to the contour thereof shown in Figure 10, and are upset to provide the projections 2'! for the purpose hereinbefore stated.

As a result of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the inner wall 22 of the handle is provided 65 with a seam, and in order to prevent this seam from spreading when the reduced portion 18 of the stale is inserted into the socket II, a plate 35 may be permanently secured to the inner wall adjacent the point of folding of the latter wall 70 and having a width suflicient to bridge the seam.

The plate 35 is preferably secured in place prior to completely folding the strip, shown in Figure 5,

to the shape illustrated in Figure 6, and one edge of the strip is positioned in such a manner that 75 the innerwall 22 is folded over this edge so as to minimize any tendency for the metal to crack during the folding operation. In the present instance, projections 35' are formed on opposite sides of the plate in staggered relationship, and registering openings 3% are formed in the opposed portions of the inner wall 22 of the handle, so that when the strip is completely folded to the position thereof shown in Figure 7, the projections extend into the openings 34'. After the plate has been secured in place and the strip completely folded to the position thereof shown in Figure 6, the grip 26 is inserted between the upper ends of the diverging portions and the reduced portion of the stale is forced into the socket causing the aforesaid upper. ends of the handle to clamp the grip therebetween and thereby force the projections 2'! into the ends of the grip.

Thus, from the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a D-type handle of relatively simple construction capable of being readily and inexpensively manufactured. In addition, it will be apparent from the foregoing, that a handle constructed in accordance with this in vention is extremely durable and is capable of being readily assembled with the stale or stem of various different types of implements.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An implement handle comprising complementary sections tubular in cross section arranged back to back and having a continuous inner wall bent upon itself at one end forming a partition between the sections at the latter end, and a stem having laterally spaced end portions engageable in the tubular sections on opposite sides of the partition.

2. A D-type handle comprising complementary opposed sections tubular in cross section having a continuous inner wall return bent at one end to locate the inner wall portion of one section in juxtaposition to the adjacent inner wall portion of the other section and forming a socket, said sections further having diverging. portions eX- tending from the socket, a grip clamped between the extremities of the diverging portions and a stem having laterally spaced end portions extending into the socket on opposite sides of the end portions aforesaid of the inner wall.

3. An implement handle comprising complementary opposed sections having the portions at one end substantially semi-circular in cross section and flanges extending toward each other from the marginal edges of the semi-circular portions, the marginal flanges on one section being continuous with the marginal flanges on the cooperating section and arranged back to back in contact with each other at the end aforesaid forming a socket, and a stem having laterally spaced ends extending into the socket on opposite sides of the flanges.

4. An implement handle comprising complementary opposed sections having the portions at one end substantially semi-circular in cross section and flanges extending toward each other from the marginal edges of the semi-circular portions, the marginal flanges on one section being continuous with the marginal flanges on the cooperating section and arranged back to back in contact with each other at the end aforesaid forming a socket, a stem provided with laterally spaced ends having a pressed fit in the socket on opposite sides of the flanges, and means reenforcing the flanges preventing separation of the latter by said stem.

5. An implement handle comprising complelmentary opposed sections tubular in cross section, having a common inner flat wall bent upon itself at one end to form a partitioned socket, said sections having diverging portions extending from the socket, the inner walls of said diverging portions each being bent at their other ends to lie flush against the outer wall of said portions, a grip clamped between the extremities of the divergent portions, and means on said inner walls cooperating with said grip to prevent rotation thereof.

6. A D-type handle comprising complementary opposed sections tubular in cross section, having a common inner wall bent to form a socket and diverging portions, a metallic plate disposed between the inner walls adjacent the bend therein, said inner walls engaging opposite Sides of said plate, and a stem having laterally spaced end portions extending into the socket on opposite sides of said inner wall.

THOMAS L. CROOK. 

